Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFESFI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFESFI’, particularly characterized by having white, striped flowers with reddish-purple centers and red-purple striped lips, 1 to 3 peduncles that are long and moderate, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFESFI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALFESFI’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withnumerous attractive white, striped flowers with reddish-purple centersand red-purple striped lips, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFESFI’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in January 2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, ofthe proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘23390-04’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘PHALBUKALO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP28,322).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, in November 2010. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 24, 2018, by Applicant who obtained the subject matter discloseddirectly from the Inventor. ‘PHALFESFI’ has not been made publiclyavailable or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to theeffective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, and can be usedto distinguish ‘PHALFESFI’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant:

-   -   1) White, striped flowers with reddish-purple centers and        red-purple striped lips;    -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and moderate; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs weretaken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week-oldplants in January 2019. Colors in the photographs may differ from thecolor values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALFESFI’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFESFI’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALFESFI’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALFESFI’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in January 2019 onflowering plants which were planted in 12-centimeter (diameter) pots.After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12-centimeter pots and grownin a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by acooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in agreenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12-centimeterpots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALFESFI’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘23390-04’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘PHALBUKALO’ (U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 28,322).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (between RHS 190B and 190C)            colored roots with branching lateral roots having light            yellow-green (RHS 145D) colored root tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual            propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24            weeks. After transplantation into 12-cm pots, the plants are            finished after 48 to 50 weeks.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant with            raceme inflorescence.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 55.0 cm to 60.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 33.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 15.0 cm            to 17.0 cm. Width: 8.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf            blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 15 degrees and 25 degrees. Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS            146B. Texture (upper surface): Rough. Texture (lower            surface): Slightly rough. Thickness: 2.5 mm to 2.9 mm.            Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper            surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 12.        -   Length.—51.0 cm to 56.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.4 mm to 4.7 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Mix of yellow-green (RHS 146C) and brown (RHS N200A).        -   Internode length.—4.0 cm to 5.0 cm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 180.0 mm to            210.0 mm. Diameter: 120.0 mm to 140.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12-cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 65.0 mm to 70.0 mm. Diameter: 82.0 mm to            87.0 mm. Depth of lip: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 8 to 14 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm.            Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Mix of            yellow-green (RHS 195B) and purplish-red (RHS N77B).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Obtuse asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to            tip): 38.0 mm to 40.0 mm. Width: 49.0 mm to 51.0 mm. Color            (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS            NN155C). Over color: Red-purple stripes (RHS N78A) and shade            (RHS N78B). Lower surface: Basic color: Very light purple            (RHS 76C). Over color: Red-purple stripes (between RHS N78B            and N78C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse symmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 40.0 mm to            42.0 mm. Width: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).            Over color: Reddish-purple (RHS N78B) at the base and            reddish-purple stripes (RHS N78A). Lower surface: Basic            color: Light purple (RHS 76A). Over color: Purplish-pink            (RHS N78C); diluting reddish-purple stripes (RHS N78A)            toward margin; slightly yellow-green (RHS 195B) toward the            tip.        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 40.0 mm to            42.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).            Over color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145D) at the base;            reddish-purple stripes and spots (RHS N78A). Lower surface:            Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76A). Over color:            Yellow-green (between RHS 195A and 195B) at the base and            diluting reddish-purple stripes (RHS N78B).        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 15.0            mm to 17.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Dark red (RHS 187B) and            dark purplish-red (RHS N79C). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.            Margin: Undulated. Length: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Width: 13.0            mm to 15.0 mm. Color: Upper surface: Slightly white (RHS            NN155C) and yellow (RHS 13B). with dark red stripes (RHS            59A) at the base; red (RHS 185A) on one side and            reddish-purple (RHS N78B) toward the other side with dark            red-purplish stripes (RHS N79B) toward the edge. Lower            surface: White (RHS NN155C); yellow (RHS 13C) on one side;            reddish-purple stripes (RHS N78A) and region (RHS N78B)            toward the margin.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 21.0            mm to 23.0 mm. Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Color: Upper            surface: Slightly yellow (RHS 13C) at the base with red            wings (RHS 185A); dark purplish-red (RHS N79C) toward the            whiskers and white region (RHS NN155C) in the middle. Lower            surface: Slightly purplish-red (RHS N77B) at the base; white            (RHS NN155C) in the middle; reddish-orange wings (RHS 176C);            reddish-purple stripes and region (RHS N78A) toward margin;            dark purplish-red (RHS N79C) toward whiskers.        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm.            Length: 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color:            Yellow (RHS 13B); dotted (RHS 59A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 4.7 mm to            5.2 mm. Color: Light reddish-purple (RHS N78D) with            reddish-purple region (RHS N78B) toward the tip.        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Color:            Orange (RHS 24A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 1.9 mm to            2.2 mm. Color: Light yellow-green (RHS 195C) and light            reddish-purple (RHS N78D) toward the flower.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm to            2.5 mm. Color: Dark purplish (RHS N79B) at the base; mix of            yellow-green (RHS 195B and 195C) and light reddish-purple            (RHS N78D) toward the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis to date.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALFESFI’ differs from female parent plant ‘23390-04’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFESFI’ has dark red and dark purplish-red whiskers with whitetips, and light reddish-purple (RHS N78D) columns with reddish-purpleregion (RHS N78B) toward the tip, whereas ‘23390-04’ has dark redwhiskers with yellow tips, and light purple (RHS 76A) columns.Additionally, ‘PHALFESFI’ has smaller flowers than ‘23390-04’.

‘PHALFESFI’ differs from male parent plant ‘PHALBUKALO’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 28,322) in that ‘PHALFESFI’ has obtuse asymmetric petal apexes,whereas ‘PHALBUKALO’ has slightly emarginated asymmetric petal apexes.Additionally, ‘PHALFESFI’ has narrower dorsal sepals than ‘PHALBUKALO’.

‘PHALFESFI’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALBUKAP’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,445) and ‘PHALCTOZYP’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 27,670). ‘PHALFESFI’ differs from the commercial variety‘PHALBUKAP’ in that ‘PHALFESFI’ has obtuse asymmetric petal apexes, andoblong leaves with obtuse unequal apexes, whereas ‘PHALBUKAP’ hasmucronate symmetric petal apexes, and narrow obovate leaves withmucronate apexes. Additionally, ‘PHALFESFI’ has shorter whiskers than‘PHALBUKAP’.

‘PHALFESFI’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALCTOZYP’ in that‘PHALFESFI’ has obtuse asymmetric petal apexes, and dark red (RHS 187B)and dark purplish-red (RHS N79C) whiskers with white tips, whereas‘PHALCTOZYP’ has rounded asymmetric petal apexes, and dark red (RHS 59A)whiskers with yellow edges and tips. Additionally, ‘PHALFESFI’ haslonger whiskers than ‘PHALCTOZYP’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALFESFI’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.